The Bookman

First off, how dare you use books as a weapon. Only someone so evil, they border on Austin Power EEVEEIL, would do something so dastardly.

So sometime around 2012, I bought a Barnes and Noble Nook tablet, and it was good. I loved that tablet. I also received $25 in ebook credit and I went to town. One of the book I purchased was The Bookman. But for reasons both long and complicated that mostly involve me having a magpie personality, but the attention span of Doug from the movie "Up," I never read the story... until today.

I have had some experience with Mr. Tidhar's writing in the past. I have very much enjoyed his short stories from Tor.com. But in the end I was unable to give this book more then 3 stars (well 3.5 if Goodread would let me do that.) And for one reason only. There was just too much going on in this book. Lizard men, Jules Verne and Captian Nemo, aliens, autonomous men, Lizard boys, huge conspiracy plots involving multiple factions, Sherlock Holmes, and a Missing royal heir. My head just spins describing some of the varied characters found in this story. There are enough story plots and ideas for 6 books in here, all of which are excellent ideas, but combined ended up being just too much for one book of less then 300 words (294 on my NOOK).

Because of this, I will absolutely read more from Mr. Tidhar. He is an excellent writer and has had eleven years to hone his craft. I anticipate he did excellent things and I look forward to reading them.... eventually.